Centrist: Why are certain Treaty amendments welcomed while others are instantly dismissed?

Selective support for Treaty amendments hints at bias

In the debate over various proposals to amend the Treaty of Waitangi, there appears to be a selective reception. On one hand, the petition to add a “fourth article” affirming or expanding Māori rights is welcomed by Māori activists, many in the media, and their supporters. On the other hand, proposals advocating equality, such as ACT’s Treaty Principles Bill, are labelled as controversial.

Damien Grant: ACC is the uniquely Kiwi success story we need to ask questions about

“Ministers should not be raising taxes or reducing public spending to compensate for ACC deficits in pursuit of a short-term surplus target” declared the Honourable Nicola Willis. Which made me curious. ACC deficit?


ACC is a uniquely Kiwi success story that would be considered a catastrophic miscalculation in most jurisdictions. Workers killed or injured in the workplace cannot sue those responsible. Instead we pay them a remittance from the exchequer. 80% of your income, up to a fairly low maximum, and a few quid if you lose your arm.

Sir Bob Jones: Judith Collins naivety

The recent fracas at Auckland’s Northern Club, involving Judge Emma Aitken, her medical specialist partner, and in a separate incident, barrister Michael Reed K.C, brought much delight to the media, so much so, Wellington’s Post for example, joyously front-paged it word for word, two days in a row.

That said, I was astonished by Attorney General Judith Collins reaction, specifically, this “very serious” matter, was “not what I expect from members of the judiciary”.

Kevin: I’m Starting to Like Simeon

Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says fixing roads will be prioritised over social housing under new reforms designed to get councils “back to basics”.

[…] Back then, the Government promised “final” policy decisions to be made “later this year”, but on Monday Brown said the reforms will be split into two parts.

Monday December 23, 2024 

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Point of Order: Buzz from the Beehive - 23/12/24

Be water wise and drive safely – but where’s the guidance on which swimming spots are best avoided?

If we all heed the advice given by earnest ministers of the Crown in the two most recent statements posted on the government’s website, the pressure will be eased – just a tad – for beleaguered Health Minister Shane Reti. In the only other statement we found in our latest monitoring of what ministers have been announcing, Reti brought us up to speed on what is being done to recruit more doctors.

Centrist: Phones in prisons.....

Phones in prisons: The pros, cons, and challenges of inmate communication

Prison phone access under control

Controlled and monitored prisoner calls to loved ones can reduce reoffending, but contraband cellphones enable crime and risk the safety of people both inside and outside of the prison.

David Farrar: Why is NZ in recession?

The GDP data is bad – very bad. The economy has shrunk in the last two quarters. The question is why. There are two broad arguments. They are:

• This is due to the austerity regime of Nicola Willis and her savage public sector cuts
• This is due to the high interest rates imposed by the Reserve Bank to bring inflation down under control which skyrocketed under Grant Robertson.

David Farrar: Grant Duncan on the change in universities

Grant Duncan writes:

What’s unusual lately, though, is to see university administrators taking public stands on contentious political events, shutting down or de-platforming certain people, and imposing particular political opinions as the “correct” opinions.

Dr Will Jones: Majority of Brits Receive More in Benefits Than They Pay in Taxes

More than half of people in the U.K. receive more in benefits than they contribute in taxes, official figures show – and it’s only going to get worse. The Telegraph has more.

A total of 52.6% lived in households that received more from the state than they paid to the Treasury last year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

DTNZ: Whangarei District Council seeks injunction against fluoridation order

Whangarei District Council seeks injunction against Director General of Health’s dictate to add toxic fluoridation chemicals to its public water supply.

Last week the Whangarei District Council reconfirmed its decision to reject the Director-General of Health’s (DG) directive to fluoridate the Whangarei water supply with toxic fluoridation chemicals sourced from industrial waste.

Professor Russ Gonnering: Medicine Needs Critical Thinking, not Critical Theory

There are indications that the Pluralistic Ignorance that has characterized the past 4 years is at last coming to an end. More and more people are openly questioning the veracity of our response to Covid. Trust in physicians and hospitals has plummeted. The credibility of our Public Health institutions has been squandered. It will only be regained through a combination of insistence on accountability for past actions, the abolition (not just declaration) of conflicts of interest, the untangling of the influence of Big Pharma on public policy, and reform in organized medicine and medical education.

Dr Guy Hatchard: Analysis of Misinformation in the Gene Technology Bill....

Analysis of Misinformation in the Gene Technology Bill and Suggestions for Submissions and Discussions

A Long but Necessary Read – New Research Findings on Dangers of Gene Technology Reported

Alarming Developments in Australia Following Their Gene Deregulation

Sunday December 22, 2024 

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Guest Post: Maori Party threats

A copy of the following letter was forwarded to Michael Bassett. Deputy PM, Winston Peters has also tweeted a copy of the letter saying:

"It seems the Maori Party have sent this letter to all companies who have applied for fast track consideration.

If true, they have shown what extremist economic morons they are and how little they value the future of our country.

David Farrar: Stats NZ needs to be more accurate

Radio NZ reports:

Stats NZ is reviewing its systems after data incorrectly overstated Wellington’s job losses.

As more Health New Zealand cuts were revealed, business employment data painted a very bleak picture of the capital.

John McLean: Dame Patsy, forever on commission

Reddy, Set, Go. Please, please...just GO

In May 2024, Dame Patricia Lee Reddy turned 70 years of age. That’s the biblical threescore years and ten. Psalm 90/10 in the King James Version of the Bible goes like this:

The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away

DTNZ: UK online censorship laws come into force

Britain could soon fine social media giants up to 10% of their annual earnings for failing to remove illegal content.

Britain’s newest online censorship law came into force on Monday (UK time), as the country’s telecoms regulator published a list of content that social media platforms must remove to avoid multi-million-pound fines.

Dr Oliver Hartwich: A year of hard truths

If one word could sum up 2024, “sobering” might be it. This week’s final economic data for the year – from Treasury’s half-year update to yesterday’s GDP numbers – reads like the opposite of a Christmas wish list.

New Zealanders would be forgiven for feeling worn out. Another severe recession, worsening government books and a current account gap stuck above 6% of GDP – 2024 concludes on some harsh facts.

Alwyn Poole: On the A&E at North Shore Hospital

Periodically I do something stupid in some way to do with activity. A few bike crashes, stopping myself with my face when running down a forest track, ripping my knee open in an off-road duathon, a bee sting to find I had an allergy …

You get to test out the A&E Departments around the country.